???? FF7 released in 1997, this game started development in 1996
So at the time of its funding, Sony nor Square would know how FF7 would do in sales because it didn't release yet to really argue this game only existed as some grab at hype as if Sony didn't make games or something.
20 years ago, to move over 1 million units, someone must of liked it lol
And if you don't think that every developer that was making a JRPG at the time for consoles wasn't taking notes to see how it was done properly, I don't know what else to tell you. FF7 was always going to be a success in it's home market. That was never in question. Just look at the amount of sales that Sony had with PS1's back when FF7 was confirmed and shown for the PS1 back in April 1996. It was a bigger question how it would sell in the rest of the world once Sony announced later that they were publishing it.
LoD was absolutely marketed like a FF7 game here and it was totally played up as something that was comparable. Which... They're both games, so that's one comparison, I guess. But as I said in my original post, if one was 12/13 at the time and LoD was one of their first experiences for games of the type, I could see fondness for it. I get it. I love Dragon Quest 1 and it was absolutely a frame of reference for my future tastes in games.
Difference is that DQ and FF are actually good and have had sequels and remade many times over because they are popular enough to make it worthwhile for Square Enix to do so. They still exist to this day in many forms.
Legend Of Dragoon certainly doesn't, million seller, or not. 20 years later, all that's remembered of it is a thread on GAF or other similar nostalgia by fans. Ok, I lied, it's also remembered for some cringe-level voice acting.